If you’re reading this article, you are probably considering studying in the UK or have already committed to a university. If so, congratulations! Studying abroad is an incredibly exciting, unique experience that you will take with you for the rest of your life. Admittedly, it can be a little daunting as well, especially when it comes to learning about the legal requirements and filling out all of the paperwork.
In this article, I break down the application requirements to help alleviate some stress and confusion.
Disclaimer: I am writing with respect to a US citizen applying to study in the UK. Although some of this information may be helpful for other nationalities, some may not be.
The CAS
To apply for a UK Student Visa, you must have already applied and been accepted to a UK university. As part of your acceptance, the university will provide you with a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies, often referred to as CAS. It is an electronic document that can often be found on your student portal, and on it is a number unique to you.
If your university has not provided you with this document, it may take a few weeks after your acceptance, then contact admissions.
You cannot apply for the Student Visa without your CAS number.
Application Timing
After receiving the CAS, you are ready to start the visa application. Timing is the most important aspect at this stage.
If you are applying for the UK Student Visa and you are currently residing outside of the UK, then you must apply within 6 months of your program (often referred to as ‘course’) start date.
I recommend applying as soon as possible, because you will need to schedule an appointment for biometrics and send your passport to the UKVI Scanning Hub. Then, it will take an average of 3 weeks to receive a decision.
If you are applying for the UK Student Visa and you currently reside within the UK, then you can only apply within 3 months of your program start date, and it must be submitted before your current visa ends. Additionally, the start date of your new course must be within 28 days of the expiration date of your current visa. It will take an average of 8 weeks to receive a decision.
Steps to Skip
To double check all requirements for the application, visit the UK government website, which can be found by simply searching ‘UK Student Visa’. You have probably already come across this site as it has all of the information you need regarding this process.
- If you are from the United States, you will not need to prove your knowledge of English.
- You will also not have to prove that you have enough money to support yourself, as the United States is on the list of exempt countries from that requirement.
- The same goes for the tuberculosis testing – US citizens are not required to be tested.
At this point, you are ready to apply! Check out my article Applying for the UK Student Visa for more information on this part of the process!
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